Tag: Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh has seemingly taken over D.C. ahead of Week 10 matchup

Fans of the Black and Gold seem ready to outnumber the Burgundy and Yellow, potentially forcing a silent count in Washington for Week 10.

Fans of the Black and Gold have arrived in droves in the nation’s capital to represent their Pittsburgh Steelers as they take on the Washington Commanders in Week 10.

It seems that no matter where the Steelers travel—Las Vegas, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Denver, or perhaps even the moon—Steelers Nation shows up in astonishing numbers.

Ahead of the Week 10 contest, a video circulating on social media highlights the potential impact Pittsburgh fans could have on what should have been a tough road game for the Steelers.  Adding fuel to this passionate fire is the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins defeating the Washington Capitals on Friday.

Will Steelers fans be able to outnumber Commanders fans, forcing the home team to work off a silent count for the majority of the contest? Pittsburgh could use the extra support as they face a very formidable Commanders team in a game that could set the tone for the second half of the 2024 season.

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Former Notre Dame right wing Bryan Rust shows off delicious milkshake

Delicious.

Two years ago, my wife and I took a trip to Pittsburgh and got to experience the local institution known as the Milkshake Factory. During that time, the chain was offering a milkshake named after then-Penguins left wing Jake Guentzel. The milkshake went away when the Penguins dealt Guentzel during last season’s trade deadline.

But a new season means a chance at a new milkshake involving a Penguins player. The Milkshake Factory has taken advantage of that chance and teamed up with former Notre Dame right wing [autotag]Bryan Rust[/autotag].

Rust’s milkshake differs from Guentzel’s, but it’s my opinion that this one is better, and I wish I had the opportunity to travel to the Steel City right now just to try it. Yes, I would try it over the Campfire Milkshake that proved to be the only thing most people liked about the Chicago White Sox’s historically awful season they just had.

Rust will start this season on injured reserve, but at least this milkshake always will be available as long as it’s being offered.

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Follow Geoffrey on X: @gfclark89

1 of the people in this new Penguins staff photo doesn’t look like they belong

For a second I thought we had an NHL-MLB trade

Look, I think we all understand the pain of having to take a new headshot for a new job.

It’s genuinely annoying! You’ve got to wear a nice outfit, obviously, which takes a bit of time to put together. And, whew boy, don’t let it be a bad hair day. That’s another problem entirely. All of this for a work photo? Nobody feels like doing it.

Sometimes, though, the new gig lets you use the photo from he old gig as your headshot. That’s always a relief.

Sometimes the old gig’s photo simply isn’t usable. Or, well, maybe it shouldn’t be. Somebody should’ve told that to Jon Erlichman before he submitted his old picture as a new hire photo for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Erlichman was once the VP of process and analytics for the Tampa Bay Rays. Obviously, he took a photo for that job. And that job just so happened to require him to put on the Rays uniform.

Yes, I know what you’re asking. “Wait, what? He had to put on the uniform? But he didn’t play?” I know. It’s ridiculous. It’s one of those weird baseball things, though.

Luckily for us, though, it’s resulted in some unintentional comedy. Because, apparently, after Erlichman was hired a few months later by the Pittsburgh Penguins, that photo of him in a team uniform was the only one available.

I don’t know how or why this happened, but I’m so happy that it happened. For a split second, I thought we had just seen our first interleague trade. Of course that was unrealistic. But a man can dream, can’t he?

The Penguins are going to correct this at some point down the line when they get a proper staff photo. The only thing I ask is that they require Erlichman to dress in a full Penguins kit. It’s only right.

Jake Guentzel trade rumors: 5 teams who are reportedly ‘in the mix’ for the stud Penguins winger

The Jake Guentzel trade market is heading up ahead of the 2024 NHL trade deadline.

The NHL trade deadline is fast approaching on Friday, with some of the notable players on the market dealt already (make sure to bookmark our NHL trade deadline tracker with grades!).

But as of writing this, Pittsburgh Penguins winger Jake Guentzel is arguably the biggest name who could be on the move, and the rumors are swirling.

Any contender would love to grab the player who’s scored over 36 goals three times in his eight seasons. But who could be in the market for him?

Per a report: the Rangers, Golden Knights, Canucks, Panthers and Hurricanes could be “in the mix,” which sums up some of the biggest contenders right now.

Good luck!

Penguins’ Tristan Jarry scored a goalie goal into an empty net and it was so awesome

WE’VE GOT A GOALIE GOAL!

Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry joined the fine lineage of players between the pipes who have scored on the opposing net.

During a 3-2 game with about a minute and change left to go, the Tampa Bay Lightning pulled their goalie to send an extra attacker onto the ice to try and get the equalizer. However, Jarry had other plans.

He sent the puck all the way down the ice into the empty Tampa Bay goal to put the game out of reach for the Lightning.

While the home crowd down in Florida wasn’t too keen on this goalie goal from Jarry, his Pittsburgh teammates were elated that he’d become the first NHL goalie since Linus Ullmark earlier this year to knock a score in from their own goal.

Jarry is only the ninth goalie in NHL history to score a goal in the opponent’s net, putting him in elite company with players like Martin Brodeur, Ron Hextall and Pekka Rinne.

In an even cooler note, 2023 is now the first year in NHL history where two goalies (Jarry and Ullmark) have scored on the opposing team.

It’s a heck of a thing to get one of these twice in a year, so kudos to Jarry for lighting up the scoreboard with an awesome goalie goal.

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Watch Penguins fans start up a loud chant to fire Steelers OC Matt Canada

This is cold-blooded.

Pittsburgh Steelers fans are down so bad that NHL fans are advocating on their behalf to get rid of offensive coordinator Matt Canada.

Steelers fans are used to a certain standard of football. The franchise has six Super Bowls, plus multiple conference and division championships. The team is so good that in 16 seasons, head coach Mike Tomlin has never had a losing record. Seriously.

Naturally, if you’re winning that much, you expect an offense that reflects that, but Tomlin’s right-hand man is making no friends in Pittsburgh. Steelers offensive coordinator Matt Canada has been awful.

The team had one of the worst displays of football I’ve ever seen against the Texans in Week 4 and followed that up with a mind-bogglingly bad effort in Week 5 against the Ravens. Despite beating Lamar Jackson and Co. (those dropped passes certainly helped get that win), people are fed up.

Fans of other sports around the city have jumped in to dunk on Canada. During the Pittsburgh Penguins’ season opener on Tuesday, the arena broke out into a head-turning chant.

Jenna Harner of WXPI shared a video Tuesday of the crowd saying in unison, “Fire Canada.” Yikes.

I am sending my deepest thoughts and condolences to the black and yellow faithful everywhere.

A ref welcoming Connor Bedard to the NHL before his first face-off with Sidney Crosby gave fans goosebumps

Now this is how you get your NHL career started.

It really was Connor Bedard Night around the NHL as the Chicago Blackhawks rookie got his first game action at home against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

While Bedard showed some pregame jitters by hilariously forgetting his hockey stick as he left the locker room, his first face-off at the game’s puck drop felt like something out of a movie.

There he was in front of the home crowd, lined up against Penguins legend Sidney Crosby as NHL referee Kelly Sutherland shared a brief-yet-perfect greeting to Bedard as he lined up across from Crosby to start the game.

“Connor. Welcome to the NHL, man,” Sutherland told Bedard in what will be a historic moment for the sport.

Goosebumps!

Like, seriously, that’s just out of this world. It’s the passing of the torch from one NHL generation to the next.

Sutherland nailed the moment as Bedard and Crosby squared off with each other in what will be one of the coolest puck drops we’ll see this season.

If you’re Bedard, how could you forget this moment? It’s the perfect way to kick off your career to the NHL, and fans absolutely loved seeing this unfold.

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Former Notre Dame players on NHL rosters to begin 2023-24 season

Know where to check out the former Irish who have made it to the highest level.

We understand that most of you come here for football, but Notre Dame has a devoted fan base for its hockey program. A lot of NHL players have come through the program, and many of them even have found great success at hockey’s highest level. And it’s unlikely any of them forget that they once donned the Gold and Blue.

For the 2023-24 NHL season, there are seven former Irish on rosters at the start. That’s three fewer than the start of each of the past two seasons. But be on the lookout for the 24 players with Notre Dame connections currently in the AHL or even the four in the ECHL. For now, here’s who you can watch in NHL uniforms:

Watch Penguins fans get the shock of their lives when Sidney Crosby delivers their season tickets

There are few things better than Sidney Crosby delivering your season tickets.

There are few things in life better than sports. That’s a biased analysis, and I do not apologize.

It brings out every emotion imaginable and creates memories that last a lifetime. It’s why fans are so dedicated to teams or certain athletes and willing to do anything to see them in action.

The great thing about being a dedicated fan is that all the time, money, and effort you put into your fandom will find its way back to you. That’s precisely what happened to a group of lucky hockey fans.

Some Pittsburgh Penguins faithfuls bought their season tickets but likely didn’t imagine who would be on the other side of delivering them.

It’s just three-time Stanley Cup winner and four-time NHL First All-Star Team selection, Sidney “Sid the Kid” Crosby. Apparently, this is a long-time tradition for players to deliver season tickets to fans, and it’s one that probably never gets old.

No big deal.

I’m not sure what the best part of the video is: the woman who can hardly contain her tears of joy or the other people trying to play it cool like this happens every day.

Well played, Penguins.

Former Michigan State hockey defenseman traded to Montreal Canadians

Former Spartan defenseman Jeff Petry was included in the NHL’s latest blockbuster trade

Jeff Petry spent 2007-2010 patrolling the blue line in East Lansing, being a leading player for Michigan State. Following his time in the green and white, Petry has gone on to have a 14 year career in the National Hockey League with the Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadians and Pittsburgh Penguins.

Petry’s career is headed back to Montreal for its 15th season, as he was a part of a blockbuster 3-team trade between the Penguins, Canadians and San Jose Sharks.

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on Twitter @Cory_Linsner.